My Houzz: A Couple’s Fresh Start in Kansas City
Empty nesters personalize their 1911 Missouri home with a mix of navy, leather, wood and brass
As recent empty nesters, Colleen and Mark Patterson were ready for a change when they bought their 1911 Colonial Revival-style home in Kansas City, Missouri. The youngest of their five children had moved out to go to college and the couple’s needs and design style had changed over time. Colleen, who worked as an interior designer for more than 15 years, and Mark, who works in insurance, love simple, midcentury modern decor, and both wanted a departure from the formal, traditional style of their previous home.
They enlisted the help of a husband-and-wife design-build team, Molly and Kevin Jarvis of Brasstacks, to renovate the home and create a cohesive new style.
They enlisted the help of a husband-and-wife design-build team, Molly and Kevin Jarvis of Brasstacks, to renovate the home and create a cohesive new style.
Colleen worked with Molly in designing the living room. The large stone fireplace was the initial focal point. They added leather armchairs and a wood mantel to play off the stone.
“We like to approach all our design and build projects with a clean, modern and intentional design,” Molly says. “We show a lot of restraint with the decor — less is more — but really love the items you have. With the exception of some art and a few small decorative items, we touched every item in the house, including furniture layout, kitchen design and sourcing and styling furniture.”
Mina chair in Midnight leather: Anthropologie; Linon pillows in Copper: CB2; other accent pillows and throw: Golden & Pine; bell jar table lamp: Southern Lights Electric; Orbit sconces: Workstead; antiqued metal drum pendant: Restoration Hardware; poufs: Ulah; area rug: Knotty Rug Co.
“We like to approach all our design and build projects with a clean, modern and intentional design,” Molly says. “We show a lot of restraint with the decor — less is more — but really love the items you have. With the exception of some art and a few small decorative items, we touched every item in the house, including furniture layout, kitchen design and sourcing and styling furniture.”
Mina chair in Midnight leather: Anthropologie; Linon pillows in Copper: CB2; other accent pillows and throw: Golden & Pine; bell jar table lamp: Southern Lights Electric; Orbit sconces: Workstead; antiqued metal drum pendant: Restoration Hardware; poufs: Ulah; area rug: Knotty Rug Co.
Colleen tries to support local small businesses as much as possible and worked with Molly to buy many pieces in Kansas City. This table, purchased at Brookside’s home and garden store, Golden & Pine, was locally made by Ben Neis.
A portrait of Beethoven painted by Mark’s uncle hangs near the baby grand piano. “Mark is a fantastic pianist,” Colleen says.
A trio of houseplants in modern planters, including a rubber plant and a Madagascar dragon tree, adds a touch of green near the front door.
Case Study planters: Modernica via Golden & Pine
High-Impact Houseplants for First-Timers
Case Study planters: Modernica via Golden & Pine
High-Impact Houseplants for First-Timers
Navy blue walls are a standout feature in the library. The homeowners love this space because of its custom-built desk, cabinets, fireplace and heated tile floors.
Colleen loves that each room in the home has a purpose. “You can walk into every room and feel cozy and comfortable and not feel overwhelmed,” she says. “Everything is homey. It feels more like a home now.”
Soot paint: Benjamin Moore
Colleen loves that each room in the home has a purpose. “You can walk into every room and feel cozy and comfortable and not feel overwhelmed,” she says. “Everything is homey. It feels more like a home now.”
Soot paint: Benjamin Moore
Wood cabinet: Unruh; Ava wall sconce: Lostine
The homeowners bought this vivid portrait at a local art fair. It’s visible from the doorway leading into the library.
The front door opens to both the stairway and the living room. The couple kept the staircase runner left behind by the previous homeowners.
“I am inspired by products — whether that be a great handmade tile or material or a piece of furniture — to build a room around,” Molly says.
The dining room can also be seen from the front entrance. The custom handcrafted table is from local furniture company Unruh. The firm, which also has a showroom in Dallas, builds its pieces inside a converted church.
Elowen dining chairs: Anthropologie; dining table: Unruh; buffalo check Kimball chair: Anthropologie; Terrace bar cart: West Elm
The dining room can also be seen from the front entrance. The custom handcrafted table is from local furniture company Unruh. The firm, which also has a showroom in Dallas, builds its pieces inside a converted church.
Elowen dining chairs: Anthropologie; dining table: Unruh; buffalo check Kimball chair: Anthropologie; Terrace bar cart: West Elm
The new kitchen design started with white cabinetry. Molly added touches of brass and a contrasting navy island so the space wouldn’t feel too stark.
Shelby Mod pendants in natural brass: Schoolhouse Electric; custom cabinets: Steve Lee; quartz countertops and backsplash: Braco Stone; Slope counter stools in Saddle: West Elm; Naval island paint: Sherwin-Williams
Shelby Mod pendants in natural brass: Schoolhouse Electric; custom cabinets: Steve Lee; quartz countertops and backsplash: Braco Stone; Slope counter stools in Saddle: West Elm; Naval island paint: Sherwin-Williams
Colleen and Mark love their new kitchen because it’s both beautiful and a very functional chef’s kitchen. There are three ovens, a warming drawer and a prep sink. There’s also an abundance of counter space, perfect for parties and family gatherings. A nearby door leads outside.
“The initial design challenge was getting a bigger footprint for the kitchen,” Molly says. “It’s an old home, so in true fashion the space was very choppy. We didn’t want the house to lose its charm but we did want to make the house accommodating to the modern family. Another fun thing we find a lot in these old houses is bathrooms in kitchens, which is just a little strange.”
To overcome these issues, Molly and Kevin redesigned the main level by relocating a back entrance, moving the pantry and bathroom and opening up the floor plan.
A bathroom used to sit in the space behind the custom barn door. The designers moved the bathroom and replaced it with a walk-in pantry.
Barn door: Wes Edwin Design; buffalo check Kimball chair: Anthropologie
To overcome these issues, Molly and Kevin redesigned the main level by relocating a back entrance, moving the pantry and bathroom and opening up the floor plan.
A bathroom used to sit in the space behind the custom barn door. The designers moved the bathroom and replaced it with a walk-in pantry.
Barn door: Wes Edwin Design; buffalo check Kimball chair: Anthropologie
The renovated third floor features a bedroom for the couple’s youngest daughter. She’s away at college most of the year, but this is her room when she visits.
Helix lights by Windy Chien via Golden & Pine
Helix lights by Windy Chien via Golden & Pine
The bedroom includes a charming dormer window nook.
Tassel pillow: Golden & Pine; white pillow: West Elm; large Delilah tote basket: Cost Plus World Market; browse woven baskets
Tassel pillow: Golden & Pine; white pillow: West Elm; large Delilah tote basket: Cost Plus World Market; browse woven baskets
The master bedroom walls feature a weathered gray wallpaper pattern. The kilim-patterned throw on the bed is from Kansas City maker Happy Habitat.
Ceniza lumbar pillow: The Citizenry
Ceniza lumbar pillow: The Citizenry
A cozy seating area was created in one corner of the room.
Chair and Modernist table lamp: West Elm; table: Restoration Hardware
Chair and Modernist table lamp: West Elm; table: Restoration Hardware
The hall bathroom on the second floor features a custom navy vanity with a vessel sink and brass accents.
Vanity: Wes Edwin Design; sink and faucet: Kitchens & Baths by Briggs; Kensington pivot rectangular mirror: Pottery Barn
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
Vanity: Wes Edwin Design; sink and faucet: Kitchens & Baths by Briggs; Kensington pivot rectangular mirror: Pottery Barn
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
Who lives here: Colleen and Mark Patterson and their black labrador, Pitch
Location: Brookside neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri
Size: 3,400 square feet (316 square meters); five bedrooms, five bathrooms
Year built: 1911